Primer

If you’re like me and your thighs touch when you walk, you understand how literally irritating this can be. Especially during the summertime, the friction can cause chafing, rashes and overall discomfort. To combat this, I had taken to wearing my Spanx ‘Slimplicity’ High-Waisted Girl Shorts under dresses and skirts. But in oppressive heat and humidity, the last thing you want is an extra layer of clothes. So I was over the moon when I discovered Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel. The easy-to-apply gel dries to form a silky, breathable barrier to fight friction. One application lasts all day – plus it’s fragrance-free and non-staining.

What’s even better? It doubles as a makeup primer. Yes, girl, you heard me me right. The formula looks, feels and performs almost exactly like Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. Except Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel costs around $7-8 (click here for a $2 coupon) for 1.5 oz and a 1.7 oz tube of the Smashbox primer will set you back $49!

Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel is sold online and at a drugstore/mass market retailer near you.

I usually spend about five minutes on my makeup every morning. Before leaving the house (yes, I’m one of those girls) I apply foundation, pressed powder, eyeliner, mascara, and lip stain – at minimum. I recently tested all of the products in this kit, minus the lipgloss. No offense to MAKE UP FOR EVER, but I’m not a gloss girl.

First, here is a photo of me with no makeup on. This is what I start with.

I first applied the HD Microperfecting Primer, which made my skin feel smooth and wasn’t too heavy. I then applied my regular foundation. Next up was the Aqua Eyes eyeliner (inside upper lid, and on upper lid), which was precise but had smude-ability. I added Aqua Cream in 13 from the liner to my brow bone, and it gave the perfect amount of color and highlight. Then two coats of Smoky Lash Mascara, which I was probably the most curious about. My lashes are long, and hit my brow bone, so at the end of every day I have to make sure I haven’t turned into a raccoon. Finally, I dusted the HD Microfinish Powder over my entire face.

This whole process took about 10 minutes. I was eager to see if my extra time in the morning would hold up by the end of the day. This is what I looked like at 8 a.m., post makeup application.

I then walked eight blocks to work on a foggy and humid day, had a typical seven hour day at work, and walked home the eight blocks in the humidity. This was unintentionally the perfect day to test these products!

Here is a photo of what I looked like when I got home.

Everything had held up really well! The eyeliner, Aqua Cream, and mascara looked as good as they had 10 hours earlier. My foundation had melted a little, mostly in the T-zone area, which was to be expected after a humid day.

Overall, I adore this product set, and it was absolutely worth doubling the amount of time I spend applying makeup in the morning. I would suggest this most to ladies who have a long day ahead of them, and no time for a mirror check. Trust me, all MAKE UP FOR EVER products will stay exactly where you applied them, and you will look fresh and lovely (not made-up and cakey).

The Wild and Chic Best of Make Up For Ever Kit ($55) is available exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.com.

A few weeks ago, Urban Decay sent me their Summer 2011 Collection to test and review. As a huge fan of Urban Decay (they’re one of my all time favorite brands – I love their rock and roll vibe and I’m addicted to their 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils), I always have high expectations for new products. And this collection does not disappoint.

Usually when I receive an entire collection to review, I’ll choose a few of the best products and feature them here. This collection, which is comprised of some familiar faces and some new makeup bag staples, has so many choice products that I’m going to review the whole she-bang.

Okay, time to break it down…

The includes six mini bottles of summer’s IT shades: Fame (shimmery beige), Superfreak (gold glitter), Xanadu (Purple Glitter), Miss T (pearly fuchsia), Woodstock (hot pink) and Love Train (iridescent white). Something to note about these lilliputian lacquers is that each brush has 220 strands, just like a standard polish brush – so it delivers the same flawless finish as a bigger bottle. I painted a pedicure using Woodstock a two weeks ago and it’s still holding on and looking hot.

Even if you own just about every Urban Decay product that exists – like me – here’s a reason you should still add the to your shopping list: one of the shadow shades, Verve (pale champagne with oyster shimmer), is exclusive to this set. And don’t let the name fool you. There’s more to this kit than just eyeshadows. You also get a full-sized 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey (dark brown) and a mini Crush Lip Junkie Lipgloss (sheer bright hot pink with a vanilla mint flava).

are great for this time of year when a face of foundation is just too much. The formula is buildable and breathable for comfortable wear. And it’ got SPF 20 to protect your baby face from the summer sun.

I’ve been wearing for years and while I wouldn’t change the formula for anything, the packaging left much to be desired. You could never seem to get all of the product out of the I Dream Of Genie-esque tube, and makeup addicts everywhere were pissed. Some of them even took to YouTube, demonstrating how to saw the shit open to extract every drop. Well, Urban Decay has responded in a BIG way. They’ve re-packaged the product in a squeezable tube – with 10% more product than before. If you wear eyeshadow, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a must. When used as a base, your eyeshadow will not move or crease for 24 hours. I kid you not. And what’s more – the pigment of your shadow appears truer and more vibrant…not some washed out version of what you see in the shadow pan. It’s available in 4 shades: Original (invisible), Eden (tawny matte finish), Greed (glimmering gold) and Sin (champagne shimmer). If you buy anything in this post, this should be it.

Urban Decay is not kidding when they describe ‘s formula as mermaid worthy. I wear Cannonball during my infant son’s weekly swim lessons and it does not budge. Well, not until I remove it with Urban Decay’s .

Even though I’m brown, I still like to up the ante in the summertime. What I love about is that they are the antithesis of the flat, orangey bronzers that I loathe. The three shades deliver a gorgeous sunkissed glow that actually looks like it may have come from, well, the sun. I’m going to Miami in a few days and I couldn’t decided which one should come with. In the end, I opted for Gilded (smoldering bronze shimmer). Besides being a gorgeous shade, I also figured that it could pull double duty as an eyeshadow. Genius consideration, right?

gives lips a sheer/stained effect. The conditioning formula nourishes your pout, sans stickiness. Available in five shades (Stung, a sheer blackberry, is the prettiest IMO), the gloss smells and tastes like honey. Problem is I don’t like honey – the smell or the taste of it. But if you don’t have honey hangups, these are some gorgeous glosses to add to your collection.

Urban Decay is celebrating 15 years in the beauty biz with the . This baby is already packed in suitcase for Miami. It’s the perfect size for a product packrat like me. Roomy enough so that I can travel with enough stock, but not so cavernous that I’m tempted to fill it up with everything I own. LOVE!

Finally, there’s the . Urban Decay says, “If you’re looking for something new to give your favorite bride, lavish her with this decadent gift-ready box of travel-sized products designed to keep her looking exquisite all day (and night, wink wink).” But, honestly, you don’t need to be a bride-to-be to enjoy this set. I’ve been a Mrs. for 4 years and I’m crushing on this kit. It contains: • Razor Sharp Ultra-Definition Finishing Powder to diffuse lines for a flawless airbrushed look. • Urban Decay’s best-selling original formula Eyeshadow Primer Potion (full-sized) and Supercurl Curling Mascara to keep her eyes looking fresh. • Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Midnight Cowboy to give bare and lightly colored lips a sensual, come-hither shine or electrify darker lipcolor with more texture. • All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray to ensure her look stays put for 16 incredible hours. • Marshmallow Sparkling Lickable Body Powder to keep the party going long after the guests have left.

I was so impressed with All Nighter that I bought (their other makeup setting spray that also addresses oil overload) yesterday at Sephora.

Don’t be fooled by its putty-like texture. It applies like a dream, leaving skin so satiny soft that you’ll wonder exactly how you lived your life before this product came into existence. The primer easily disguises pores and wrinkles, and imparts a matte finish. So if the summer heat and humidity turns your mug into an oil slick, you’d be a brainy beauty to invest in a jar of this pink magic.

L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base is intended to be worn in tandem with your favorite tinted moisturizer or foundation. But if you’re having a low-maintenance kind of day, just apply a little to bare skin and it gives you a you-but-better look.

The formula is 100% oil- and fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic – so even the most sensitive skins should tolerate this product.

Just proof, once again, that it doesn’t take a million bucks to look like, well, a million bucks. L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base is this Recessionista’s Fabuless Pick of the Week.